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First Round

• Wed. 21st June: (Group C)
  Game 22 Slovenia - Norway
  Gelredome, Arnhem (18:00)

Three points for Slovenia could earn them a place in the Quarter-finals, as long as Yugoslavia and Spain don't draw. A draw against Slovenia would be enough for Norway as long as Spain don't win, while a win for Norway would guarantee them a place in the Quarter-finals, no matter what happens in the other game.

Norway will be without Liverpool defender Veggard Heggem but Tottenham's Steffen Iversen is expect to play an attacking role against Slovenia, even though he broke his nose against Yugoslavia.

Norway are seething after losing to Yugoslavia, who they claim were not playing fair; overacting when challenges were made. Norway are not comfortable if they go a goal down early and in Zlatko Zahovic, Slovenia have somebody who likes to do just that.

Slovenia and Norway played each other in qualifying, Norway taking all six points from the two encounters; winning 2-1 in Slovenia and 4-0 in Norway.

Slovenia's captain, Darko Milanic, will miss this match; after he picked up his second yellow card against Spain.

It's Slovenia who have the biggest mountain to climb, but Zahovic may just be the pick-axe that helps them get to the summit of this match. He's scored three goals in two matches already -- currently equal with Savo Milosevic of Yugoslavia.

Slovenia Team:
12-Mladen Dabanovic
3-Zeljko Milinovicm, 6-Aleksander Knavs, 5-Marinko Galic, 7-Dzoni Novak
8-Ales Ceh, 11-Miran Pavlin, 13-Mladen Rudonja, 17-Ermin Siljak
19-Amir Karic, 10-Zlatko Zahovic

Norway Team:
1-Thomas Myhre
2-Andre Bergdolmo, 3-Bjorn Otto Bragstad, 16-Dan Eggen, 7-Erik Mykland
8-Stale Solbakken, 22-Stig Inge Bjornebye, 18-Steffen Iversen, 17-John Carew
20-Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, 9-Tore Andre Flo

Referee: Graham Poll (England)

The Match:
Norway managed to get a point, but not a goal. Not surprising as they only managed to score one all tournament.

As the whistle blew to end this stalemate the Norwegians thought they were in the quarter finals. In Bruges, Yugoslavia were leading Spain by three goals to two. The game was into stoppage time.

Even if Spain pulled one back, Norway would qualify thanks to their goal against Spain in their opening match.

God must have been waiting for Zahovic to score for Slovenia, but when he didn't add to his tally of three in the tournament, the wise old man thought about football fans around the world and let Spain equalise against Yugoslavia in the third minute of stoppage time.

There were five minutes added on in Bruges, and Alfonso answered the prayers of the neutrals, by scoring the Spanish winner that would banish the goal shy Norwegians from the tournament.

That about sums up this match. Norway were praying for the right result eslewhere.

Thank God their prayers weren't answered, because Norway are one of the most boring teams to watch.

Result: Slovenia 0 -- Norway 0

Man of the Match: What match?

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